Ice-tongs.



T. L. VEST.

ICE TQNGS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12; i917.

1 253;, 1L 0 Patented; Jan. 8, 1918.

ll 4 5m? OMAS L. VEST, EARKVILZE, MISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

IGE-TONGS.

Patented Jan. 8, 191%.

Application filed July 12, 1917. Serial No. 180,175.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. Vns'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkville, in the county of Platte and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Tongs; and 'I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to improvements in ice tongs and has for its primary object, the provision of a device of this character which may be conveniently used to lower blocks of ice into a refrigerator without causing the usual bumping of the ice on the bottom of the ice ho- Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be operated in spaces in which the ordinary curved pair of tongs could not be used.

lVith these and numerous other objects in view my invention resides in the novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts as described in the specification and claimed and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. fl: is an enlarged edge view of one jaw; and

n Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The present embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a pair of crossed aws 1 preferably formed from lengths of iron or the like pivotally connected by a bolt or the like 2 at the crossing point and having their upper short ends 3 connected by a suitable handle 4. The portions of the jaws below the crossing point, diverge outwardly a short distance and then are directed downwardly in normally parallel relation to form straight ends 5.

The lower ends of the straight ends 5 of the jaws are substantially rectangular in.

cross-section and bifurcated to form parallel spaced ears 6, each pair being provided with transversely alined apertures adapted to receive a bolt or rivet 8 upon which is mounted a spur 9 for a purpose to be described. The spurs 9 each comprise a substantially rectangular body having a transverse aperture 1n which is received the rivet or bolt 8, and an inwardly and upwardly extending ta pered portion 10 adapted to bite into a block of ice or the like when it is to be lifted. The central portion is provided on its outer side with an outwardly directed lug 11 which is of substantially one-half the thickness of said portion and is disposed on the lower half as illustrated in the drawing. The lug 11 has its end inclined downwardly and outwardly from its upper edge for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Each of the straight portions 5 of the jaws is provided with a pair of spaced guides 12 in the form of substantially rectangular loops or links which are larger than the cross-sectional area of the jaw so that when they are secured in place a space will be left between the outer end of the loops or guide 12 whose function will be described. Slidable in each pair of guides, and in parallel relation with the jaw end 5 is a rod 13 whose lower end 14L is beveled downwardly and inwardly to slidably engage the inclined end of the lug 11 to actuate the same and move the tapered end 10 inwardly when the rod is permitted to drop by gravity, said operation moving the spur into operative engagement with the block of ice or the like.

For the purpose of locking the spur in engagement with the block of ice and therefore hold in rods 13 in lowered positions, each straight end 5 is provided with a cam 15 pivoted thereto, said cam having a handle 16 which extends upwardly around the point of juncture of the straight end 5 and the diverging portion of the jaw. The cam 15 is adapted to engage the upper rounded end of the rod, and in order that the cam. may be held against movement, the handle 16, which is formed of spring metal, is re ceived'in a longitudinal groove 17, at the point of juncture of the diverging portion and the straight end of the jaw.

It is readily seen that in use the spurs are moved inwardly and locked in position by the cams 15, whereupon the jaws are separated in the usual manner to engage a block of ice lllllll oted spur, operating rod and locking cam,

it is to jbeunderstood that I may use this operating. mechanism on" one of theIja'ws n ya From theforegoing description the con ,l-V I 4 a i struction. and operation of my improved ice tongs' w'ill be understood and it is also tolbe understood that within thescope of the appended claims numerous changes in the minor details of construction maybe made 1: without sacrificing the principal advantages.

I claim: j l. A device of the class described includinga pair of straight j aws, a spur pivotaily connected between its ends tothe end of one of the jaws, guides onsa'id jaw, a rodsl idable in said guides and adapted to drop by gravity to contact one end of the spur tomove the other end inward, and a cam pivoted to a the .-j aw toengage 'the upper endof the rod and lock it against movement.

2. A device of the class described including a pair ,of straight j aws, a spur pivotally connected between its ends'to the end of one of the jaws, guides on said jaw, a rod ,,sl-idable in said guides and adapted to drop by gravity to contact on'e end of the spur to move the other 'end inward, and a cam pivoted to the jaw at a point 'adjacentthe upper end of t-l1erod ,a :spring-meta-lhandle on said cam,;and said j aw having-a longitud nal groove in its outer face to receive the,

Copies o fth is patenti maybe obtained forsfive cents spring handle whereby the rod may be locked against movement.

13; iA-pdevice-:iot:tlieclass described including a pair of straight jaws, having their lower ends bifurcated to form spaced ears, a pair of spurs pivoted intermediate their ends b'etween the ears, each spur comprising a substantiallyrectangular central portion, an inwardly and upwardly directed tapered extension Ion said portion, an out wardlylextending lug onithe lower half of eachfspur, said lug being of substantially onehalf the thickness of the central portion, and having its outer end inclined downwardly andoutwardly from its upper edge, and-means engaging said lug for actuating said spur and locking it against movement.

4. A device of the class described comrisin a aairiof crossed faws havin their I lower ends bifurcated to form spaced ears, a pair otspurspivotally connected intermediate their ends "to the jawsbetween said ears, said spurs each comprising a su bstantially',- rectangu1ar 'central portion, an inward-lyjand upwardly d rected tapered extension on said tpo rtjion', an outwardly extending lug on said body, said lug having its outerend inc-lined downwardly and ou-tward-1y from its upper edge, guides on said j aws, rods slidable in said guides and adapt ed to drop by gravity to engage; the lugs on the spurs to move the tapered ends inwardly, cams pivoted to the jaws-and adapted-to engage the; upper ends otsa-id rods to lock them against movement and a handle connectinjg the upper ends o f the-jaws.-

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set; my hand in thepresence of two-subscribingwitnesses.

TiaoMAs Witnesses: i

F. BROADH'URST," W. F. BRADLEY.

each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Batents, 

